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The table was already set and just as Nix realized he hadn’t asked any of the questions he had, Demitrious entered from an opposite doorway and grinned at them.

“Welcome,” he waved his arms and stopped at the head of the table. “Phoenix Monroe. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Nix was ashamed to admit it, but his worry for Juri was quickly overshadowed by worry for himself.

Chapter 7:

Awkward was an understatement.

Nix tried to recall the last time he felt like he was walking on this many eggshells and couldn’t. Even all the shit that’d gone down with the Demons hadn’t made him as uncomfortable as this horrendous dinner. And it wasn’t just because he’d somehow been seated next to Yejun.

He was getting firsthand experience of the neglect West had mentioned.

And he wasn’t a fan.

“I knew you could do it.” Demitrious toasted Lake for what had to be the sixth time in less than twenty minutes. He was at the head of the table, with Lake on his left and West next to Lake.

Nix was directly across from Lake with Yejun at his side, a seating arrangement made by Demitrious absently as they waited for the appetizer course to be brought out.

That was two courses ago now, and all West’s father had done was praise Lake and ignore the rest of them. So much for being interested in meeting Nix.

Guy wasn’t even interested in his own son less than five feet away.

“You really must tell me all about how you managed it.” Demitrious ignored the waitstaff as they came around the table to collect course number two, some weird gelatinous thing that no one at the table aside from him had really touched.

“It wasn’t that difficult,” Lake said. “We wouldn’t want to bore you with the details.”

“No, no, I insist.”

The corner of Lake’s mouth turned up ever so slightly. “It was West, really. He was able to trace everything back to Dew’s computer.”

“Was that before, or after that little mix up at the gallery?” Hendrix appeared in the doorway, letting himself in without an invite. He smiled when it became apparent that he wasn’t welcome and no one greeted him, undeterred. “Set another place at the table,” he ordered one of the waitstaff as he passed toward the chair opposite Demitrious.

The poor girl turned to Demitrious wide-eyed, waiting for him to either confirm or deny the order, heaving a noticeable sigh of relief when he eventually nodded his head for her to do it.

“This is a celebration,” he reminded Hendrix as the other man settled into his chair. “There’s no reason to bring up unpleasant topics.”

“From the sounds of it, it wasn’t all that bad. Handled rather quickly, is the buzz I’ve heard,” Hendrix disagreed, eyes landing on Nix’s. “You have to have thick skin to be a part ofthis family. I was impressed to hear you got past being publicly ridiculed.”

“He wasn’t ridiculed,” Yejun said.

“I know you’re talented, you’re a Sang after all, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s tastes are as…” he gave Nix a rather mocking once over, “unique as yours. Seeing your boyfriend naked? Well, that’s the type of thing we use to threaten members with, isn’t that right, Demi?”

Nix didn’t know exactly what he meant by that but he recalled Yejun telling him about how sex was used as a weapon in the club. The Essentials used it to trade and boost their statuses. He’d only partially understood at the time of that conversation, and now his curiosity was piqued.

Still, he bit his tongue and shelved any questions he had for later. He’d ask the Demons once they were home at the Roost where there was no chance of him saying the wrong thing or them being overheard.

“There was something else though, wasn’t there?” Hendrix—very obviously—pretended to recall something, even going so far as to snap his fingers. “Yes! There was a rumor about an affair. Seeing the four of you together here, I suppose it’s safe to assume the rumor was false.”

“A misunderstanding, uncle,” Lake replied icily.

“I should hope so. If it’s discovered later on that the soon-to-be emperor’s mate is unfaithful?” He clicked his tongue. “What a scandal that would be. It would look terrible on us all. That’s why I’ve always told you to make careful decisions and look at the bigger picture. Of course,” he gave another distasteful look toward Nix, “I wish you all the best, even if I must point out, as your elder and only surviving relative, that choosing a mate was a hasty decision. One that there is still time to reverse.”

He didn’t mean to, but Nix stiffened at that, and even though Hendrix had been turned toward Lake, the bastard noticed immediately.

“Is that appealing?” Hendrix pounced on him like bleeding prey. “The paperwork has yet to be filed, and since another was used as the sacrifice, there’s still time to remove yourself from this whole messy business before—”

“Whatever are you going on about?” Demitrious interrupted, barking out a laugh. “The boy has a claiming mark on his neck already, not to mention, there’s not a single reason to be seen for Lake to discard the person he’s selected as his life partner.” He leaned toward Nix, giving him attention for the first time since the start of the meal, and patted his hand on the table. “This isn’t something the Order involves themselves in, fret not.”

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